Steam-generator.



No. 838,502. PATENTED DEC 11, 1906. R. H. EDWARDS & W. M. SMITH.

STEAM GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.13.19OB.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F Ri f dffizz yfi'awards' Inventors No- 838,502. PATENTED DEC. 11, 1906.

' R. H. EDWARDS & W. M. SMITH;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 STEAM GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED we 13 1906 Richardggfllty E wards Inventors wnmm mlll'am M. Smith I '7 7 2 M@. W #1 Oh a Httomev UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD HENRY EDWARDS AND WILLIAM M. SMITH, OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA; SAID SMITH ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO JAMES P. DAVIS, OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA.

STEAM-GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Iatentv Patented Dec. 11, 1906.

Application filed August 13, 1906- Serial No. 330385- To 11.17 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, RICHARD HENRY EDwARDs and WILLIAM M. SMITH, citizens of the United States, residing at Portsmouth, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Generators, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to steam-generators.

The object of our invention is to provide a steam generator or boiler adapted to quickly evaporate water into steam and to be efficient, economical, and durable, which is not only demanded for boilers for every use, but particularly for steam fire-engines, which is the principal use to which our invention is to be applied, but equally suited for high-speed marine craft or other service.

A further object is to procure the maximum heating-surface to a gallon of water in the boiler and to form a continuous flamecontact combustion-chamber in order that every available part of the tubes may be rapidly heated, causing a large quantity of steam to be generated without waste of fuel.

Further objects and advantages will be more fully described herein and specifically pointed out in the claims, recourse being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of the generator. Fig. 2 is a plan. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through two of the heads and their connecting-tubes and a portion of the water-tubes and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the same members shown in Fig. 3 with the exception of the water-tubes, the figure therefore being that portion seen when the jacket or boilershell is removed.

In the drawings like reference-numerals indicate similar parts in all the views.

1 is the boilershell, and 1 is the coneshaped uptake to the stack, which is the usual practice.

2 is the ordinary asbestos or other lagging or jacket for preventing the radiation of heat from the interior of the shell.

3 represents branch manifolds or headers having holes to accommodate two or more inclined rows of tubes and are arranged around the inner periphery of theshell 1 in a helical form and in such a manner as to form a helix, each header being higher in relation to the one next to it. The headers or manifolds are usually constructed of caststeel and are of a parallelepipedon shape, so that the greatest amount of heating-surface is given in proportion to the quantity of water in them, those at 3 being all alike, while those at 4 are slightly different, being like one-half of the headers 3, as if they were divided on a line between the upper and lower line of tubes.

5 represents vertical header-tubes connecting the tube-headers together and forming a part thereof, the complete header-castings being all alike, therefore re uiring but one pattern. their positions in tie boiler being adjusted by the length of the connectingtubes 6 at the top and the tubes 6 at the ottom. The tubes 6 are expanded into theb upper surface of the top headers and connecting with the steam-ring or annular reservoir 7, the tubes 6 being connected to the lower portion of the bottom row of headers to the water-leg 8, as shown.

9 is the opening for the fire-door, below whifih the grate is located; but I do not show suc 10 represents the water cross-tubes and connect one header or manifold to the other opposite header, the tubes forming an angle in such a manner as to form a helical passage or continuous single combustion-chamber from the grate to the stack of such dimensions as to allow not only gas, but flame, which comes in contact with every portion of each tube. The flame, forced in a helical course upward, is slightly bafiled downward by each row of tubes, causing a portion of the flame to pass between the tubes, completely surrounding them. Every tube is inclined, so as to give a good circulation of water in the boiler, and also being straight removes the necessity of keeping in stock an assortment of tubes of various shapes and lengths. All the tubes in the generator are accessible for examination, cleaning, and plugging when required, the plugs 11 being opposite the ends of the tubes and in one side of the manifolds and may be removed by a suitable wrench applied in the cavity or socket 12, Figs. 3 and 4.

The tubes may be readily removed by unscrewing the plugs at each end of the tubes and removing the bead. This, with the operation of plugging a leaky tube, may be done Without disturbing any other part of the boiler.

The helical passage formed by the tubes and manifolds prevents choking of the flame, and the effect of the flame upon the small Water capacity of the tubes renders the boiler a rapid steamer, as the heatingsurface is greater in proportion to the quantity of Water carried than other boilers of the class, and at the same time having the same grate area of other boilers that carry more Water with less heating-surface per gallon of Water. Hence the quickness in raising steam and maintaining it With economy of fuel is much enhanced.

Having described our invention, What We claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A steam-generator comprising headers and inclined tubes, said tubes adapted to form a helical continuous combustionchamber from the grate to the stack.

2. A steam-generator comprising headers, tubes connecting said headers, said tubes disposed at an angle and adapted to form a helical combustion-chamber from the grate to the stack.

3. A steam-generator comprising headers, sets of tubes connected to said headers adapted to cross each other, said tubes being inclined to form a helical passage for the flame and gases.

4. A steam-generator comprising a steam and a Water ring, arched headers connected thereto, tubes in said headers, said tubes adapted to cross each other at their central portion and placed at an angle in said headers for forming a helical combustion-chamber from the grate to the stack.

5. A steam-generator comprising a steamring and a Water-leg, single and double tube arched headers connected thereto tubes disposed in said headers and crossing each other at their central portion, said tubes adapted to form a helical path for the flame and gases.

6. A steam-generator comprising a steam and a ater ring said Water-ring being higher near the fire-door, variable-sized curved headers connected with said rings, tubes in said headers disposed at an angle and crossing each other near their middle portion, and socket-plugs in said headers opposite the tube ends.

7. A steam-boiler comprising a Water and steam reservoir, headers connected thereto comprising a narrow and a Wide parallelepipedon chamber, one set ofthe said chambers having a double and the other set a single IOW of inclined tubes, said headers curved to conform to the circumference of the boiler, said tubes adapted to cross each other at their central or middle portion and forming a helical passage for the flame and gases, plugs opposite the tube ends, said plugs having a socket or cavity for removing said plugs from the chambers.

8. A steam-boiler comprising a Water and a steam reservoir, headers disposed around the periphery of the boiler-shell, said headers connected by tubes cast or Welded thereto, Water-tubes in said headers at an angle and adapted to cross each other near their middle portion and forming a helical passage for the flame and gases.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto affixed our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

' RICHARD HENRY EDWARDS.

WILLIAM M. SMITH. Witnesses:

J. LEsLIE HARSLEY, CLAUDE WOODWARD, Jr. 

